Microwave-assisted ring-opening polymerization of poly (glycolic acid-co-lactic acid) copolymers

Abstract

The microwave-assisted synthesis of poly(glycolic acid-co-lactic acid) (PGLA) copolymers by ring-opening polymerization of glycolide (GA) and L-lactide (L-LA) was studied. The microwave irradiation time and feed ratios on the molecular weights, as well as the thermal properties of the copolymers were discussed. These copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, GPC and DSC. It was found that the largest molecular weight ([η]: 0.8745 dL/g) of PGLA5050 was obtained at the irradiation time of 5 min. The color of the copolymers changed from white to light brown, and the yield was higher with the extension of the irradiation time. The molar component ratio of GA in PGLA (FG) was higher than the initial GA feed ratio (nGA) in the raw materials. As the nGA content increased, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the copolymers decreased and the melting temperature (T m) of the copolymers increased.